James “Jim” Locken
April 25, 1951-Dec. 6, 2023
Minot
James “Jim” Locken, 72, Minot, ND, passed away Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at
Trinity Hospital.
James Roger Locken was born April 25, 1951, the son of Omar and Helen (Kessler)
Locken, in Minot, North Dakota. Jim attended Tioga Central Elementary and graduated
from Tioga High School in 1969. The family later moved to Minot. Jim started college in
Williston, attended Minot State and graduated with his college degree in business. Jim
worked as an adjuster for Farmers Union Insurance, a driver’s education range aide at
Minot Public Schools, a private investigator, a processor at ING, and in later years as a
bus & shuttle driver. Jim never married, but stayed friends with the guys he grew up with
all his life. They had fond memories of partying, hunting, and fishing in White Earth
Valley.
Jim was a wonderful uncle to his nieces and nephews as well as his grandnieces and
nephews. He always had a good story to tell and kept everyone entertained and
laughing. He was a proud member of the NRA and Dakota Cruisers. He loved guns and
cars, and bought many throughout his lifetime.
He will be greatly missed by his family, but we know he will be spending Christmas this
year with his family and good friends in Heaven. May God bless the memory of Jim
Locken.
His loving family includes: brothers, Don (Mary) Locken, Bismarck, Steve (Mary) Locken, Minot; sister, Nancy (Jerome) Herman, Minot; nephews, Chris Locken (Jess Weigum) Bismarck, Eric (Jessica) Locken, Minot; nieces, Melissa Wrangham, Bismarck, Holly Major (Ron), Minot;
great-nephews and great-nieces, Makenna Locken, Minot, Elway Wrangham, Brielle
Wrangham, Maxxwell Wrangham, Bismarck, Matthew Major, Megan Major, Katelyn
Major, Brayden Major, Minot.
He was preceded in death by his parents; aunts and uncles including Glenn and Alice
Dickey, and great-nephew, Noel Wrangham.
Memorial Service: Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Thompson-Larson
Funeral Home, Minot.
Interment: will take place in the spring at Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.
Visitation: Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials: are preferred to First Lutheran Church or donor’s choice.
Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online
obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).
Published by The Minot Daily News, December 11, 2023.
